It’s Sidewalk Sale Time at DeCA Commissaries around the world. The events take place in August and September. Visit the Sidewalk Sale Schedule to find when your commissary is having a sale. Most stores will have a two or three day outdoor sale depending on weather.

    “If you need to save money on items for school lunches or after-school snacks, you cannot afford to miss these sidewalk sales,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “These events are like experiencing a warehouse club store right outside the commissary.”

     The sale will offer savings on case and club-pack items similar to those you would find in commercial club stores like Sam’s Club or Costco. Savings vary but you can save up to 50% off regular prices on some items. Each commissary selects what items are available. According to Kevin L. Robinson, Public Affairs Specialist, Defense Commissary Agency, “Generally these sales will have detergents, paper products, cereal, box drinks, soda, tea, pet food, cheese, yogurts, body wash, bar soap, shampoo, baby wipes, diapers, and frozen meat. For the fall event, the frozen items are concentrated on frozen hamburgers, chicken, sausage, and ice cream.”

     There will also be items from the following categories:

•       Pet supplies to include bagged and canned food, treats and cat litter 
•       International foods such as Italian, Asian and Hispanic items 
•       Cookies, brownies, pancakes and muffin mixes 
•       Canned fruit and vegetables 
•       Sandwich, storage and freezer bags; paper products and cleaning supplies such as bathroom tissue, fabric sheets and laundry detergent 
•       Health and beauty care including diapers, wipes, soaps and body lotions

     Several commissaries will partner with exchanges for certain promotions linked to this event. In addition to the case lot formats like those found in commercial club stores, commissary sidewalk events also offer “mix and match” packages of similar items in bulk-size cases.

     “Shopping your commissary is always a good deal, but the opportunities to save more during commissary sidewalk sales make a good deal even better,” O’Neal said. Sidewalk Sales take place in the Spring (April-May) and the Fall (August – September) each year.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

Military resale patrons can save money on their critical supplies

By Kevin L. Robinson, DeCA public affairs specialist

FORT LEE, Va. – The Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, community had no clue before the Independence Day holiday that their celebratory fireworks would be overshadowed by two earthquakes on consecutive days, July 4-5.

Although the commissary reopened in less than a week, and electricity and water were restored to most of the base shortly after the second earthquake, it would be weeks before any sense of normalcy returned to the sprawling desert base.

In September, National Preparedness Month highlights the importance of being ready for emergencies. It’s a message service members and their families should take to heart, said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales.

“It’s not a question of ‘if’ bad weather will strike or an unplanned event will leave you without electricity or water,” Russ said. “So apply the lessons of Preparedness Month and take advantage of your commissary and exchange benefits to save money as you prepare your survival kits.”

From April through Oct. 31, DeCA’s severe weather preparedness promotional package is offering various items for those survival kits at reduced prices. This package includes: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy-duty shipping and duct), first-aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles, hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Specific promotional items may vary from store to store.

The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month is “Prepared, Not Scared.” The month is separated into four activities: Sept. 1-7 – save early for disaster costs; Sept. 8-14 – make a plan to prepare for disasters; Sept. 15-21 – teach youth to prepare for disasters; and Sept. 22-30 – get involved in your community’s preparedness.

Generally, emergency preparedness officials suggest having a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

• Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
• Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper
• Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheets, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener
• First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription medications
• Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap
• Specialty foods – diet and low-calorie foods and drinks
• Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moisture wipes
• Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags
• Lighting accessories – flashlight, batteries, candles and matches
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA weather radio, if possible)
• Duct tape, scissors
• Multipurpose tool
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Maps of the area
• Blankets or sleeping bags

            Commissary patrons can go to commissaries.com for web links to a variety of disaster preparedness resources.

For more information about National Preparedness Month, go to Ready.gov where there are also links to more resources such as the Hurricane Seasonal Preparedness Digital Toolkit. Military families can also find information on emergency procedures specific to their service.

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         62-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              August 5 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Ready for some football?

Shop the commissary to save on tasty items needed for your watch party or tailgating event

By Rick Brink,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: Go to the DeCA website to see the news release online.

FORT LEE, Va. – You name it – from brats, wings and steaks, to chips, drinks and fresh vegetables – your commissary has what you need to make your football tailgate or watch party so memorable that you won’t care if your team wins or loses.

Well, it might not take away the sting of a loss, but it will relieve some of the burden put on your wallet to buy so much food.

“Commissary shoppers have a variety of tastes and traditions when it comes to tailgating and football watch parties. We have what they’re looking for at prices that bring greater enjoyment because they’re spending less for more,” said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales.

“And we have what fits their lifestyle,” Russ added. “Whether it’s cooking from scratch, or heating up pre-cooked frozen items, we have it at their commissary.”

Here’s a simple checklist of things to look for at your commissary:

• Meat – from fresh to frozen, you’ll find a wide variety of chicken, hamburger, steaks, brats luncheon meats and pre-cooked meats.
• Fruits and veggies – out of the bin or in platters made to order, commissaries are loaded with produce fare to augment that main menu.
• Beverages – from water to juice to soft drinks, commissaries have something for everybody’s taste buds.
• Snacks, sides and condiments – any grocery store worth its salt has what it takes to fill a bowl or two with just about any type of salad you can think about, and then there’s a tremendous variety of salty snacks and dips to go with them. Don’t forget condiments and sauces.
• Paper plates, napkins and utensils – who wants to do dishes after having a blast? Also, get your garbage bags so you won’t leave a mess behind.
• Sunscreen – even if your tailgate has shade or a canopy, you’ll want to take measures to avoid getting sunburnt.

DeCA reminds patrons they can also save on their tailgating supplies by visiting commissaries.com for online access to digital coupons via the Commissary Rewards Card, current sales promotions, information on commissary brands, the current sales flyer, the Your Everyday Savings (YES!) program and more.

Plus, throughout the month, m­ilitary commissaries are offering discounts beyond everyday savings, especially in displays at the ends of the aisles, where stores showcase products with extra-low prices.

-DeCA-

By Marguerite Cleveland

    Beginning January 1, 2020, you may see more shoppers at your local Commissary and Exchange, up to three million more. The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expands the eligibility to former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, disabled Veterans (service-connected) and caregivers for Veterans will now have shopping privileges as well as use of base MWR programs that generate revenue. It is the largest expansion of authorized users in over 60 years authorizing a 50% increase in potential customers.

     On a positive note, more shoppers are a way to reverse the declining revenues for on-base stores. More revenue for the Exchanges means more money towards military quality of life. For the commissary it will help to keep the commissary privilege which is a huge noncash compensation benefit for service members. Three million seems like a lot of new patrons but that will be spread out across all branches of the service and all the facilities in the U.S. making the impact negligible.

     For military families who have grown accustomed to shopping at the commissaries and exchanges and their service member maybe facing a medical board. It will be an added benefit to know that they will still be able to enjoy the discounted prices if their service member is medically discharged.

     The Military Times reported that Homeland Security (Coast Guard facilities), the Defense Department and Veteran Affairs have been working for more than six months to plan for the new expansion. The planning process has looked at which states have high populations of disabled veterans such as Florida, California and Texas. They also looked at high cost areas where new patrons could be drawn by the lower prices such as Hawaii, Alaska, California, D.C., New York, New Jersey and Washington. They will use this analysis to prepare for the additional items which will be needed to keep shelves full and avoid any shortages.

     One issue is how the new shoppers will gain access to the installations so they can shop. According to the Military Times, the Veteran’s Health ID Card will be used for disabled and other eligible Veterans. Once the technology is enabled at the front gate, the cards will be scanned to allow access to the installation. The cards will also be read by commissary systems before checkout. For caregivers, you must be registered in the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Program. Initially there will be a memo you can print out. The goal is to develop a caregiver ID card.

     By law there can be no further expense to the commissary, so new customers paying with a credit card at the commissary will be charged a fee, to cover the commissaries cost for the credit card fee. There is no fee if a new shopper uses cash, check or the military star card.

     Do you think adding new shoppers to the commissary and exchanges are a good idea? How do you think it will impact your shopping experience?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

By Marguerite Cleveland

     The first day of school is right around the corner and it is time to get ready. Clothes, shoes, lunch boxes and school supplies can be a large expense. Here are some tips to help you save some money.

• Make your first stop your Army & Air Force Exchange, Navy Exchange or Coast Guard Exchange. All offer back to school sales and extra savings come into play with tax-free. Here where I live in Washington State that is almost a 10% savings. Also don’t forget the online versions of each, ShopmyExchange.com, myNavyExchange.com, and ShopCGX.com. Not many people are aware that the Exchanges price match. Last school year one of my children needed an expensive calculator. It was on sale at a local retailer. You will need to bring the item and the local ad to the customer service desk to get the discounted price and then you also save the tax. When you shop at the exchange all the profits go back to the military community so it is always my first stop.
• Office Depot, Staples and many other retailers offer special deals to get you into the stores hoping you will do all your school supply shopping there. I go in for the deals and buy the max amount of all the .25 cent and .50 cent deals even if I don’t need in. Any excess supplies I donate. Discounts are usually on paper, notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, folders etc. Buy a Sunday newspaper to look at all the ads. Weekly ads are usually available on a store’s website.
• Take a trip to an Outlet Mall. This is another option for getting some good deals. When arriving head to the customer service desk and ask for the military discount booklet. This will show you every retailer that offers a discount. Some are as much as 25% off. Also see if you have any clearance outlets. This is the last stop for merchandise and the prices are crazy good but the selection is super limited. If you have any family members who wear extra small or xxx large this is a great option.
• Employee Stores. Check if you are near any major retailers headquarters. We are located near Portland, Oregon and Nike allows military to shop at their employee store a few times a year. Columbia and Under Armor allow military to shop year round. Typically employee stores offer 50% or more off of current and first quality merchandise.
• Online. Check out sites like Amazon Prime for some great deals with free shipping. It is easy to price compare online and if you hate to shop you can just sit down and order everything.

What are your favorite back to school shopping tips?

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         56-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              July 11, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Scholarships for Military Children

500 students earn grants for 2019-2020 school year

By Mike Perron,

DeCA public affairs specialist

Note: Go to the DeCA website to view this release online.

FORT LEE, Va. – Thanks to the Scholarships for Military Children program, 500 students from military families were each awarded a $2000 scholarship grant for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.

The program, created in 2001, recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissaries’ role in enhancing military quality of life. It’s administered by the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps service members and their families.

“This was the first year of an entirely paperless online application process, and it was a complete success,” said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House Foundation vice president and scholarship program administrator. “Not only did applications increase by nearly 25%, but we eliminated the need for commissaries to log in and account for each application, bundle them up and send them to the evaluators after the closing date.”

The reduced overhead allowed commissaries to dedicate more time to promoting the program, said Marye Dobson, the Defense Commissary Agency’s scholarships program liaison. “The management at the commissary stores did a great job getting the word out about the online process as well as hosting in-store ceremonies honoring the recipients at their local commissary, which helps bring attention to the availability of these scholarships.”

Scholarship applicants submit their official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants must ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already be attending an accredited college or university, full time, in the fall of 2019 or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program.

Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the military academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses.

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military children website, as is the full list of this year’s winners.

Fisher House also recently added a custom scholarship search engine to the site, tailored to military families, called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s free, easy to use, and available on mobile devices or computers at militaryscholar.org.

“The window to apply for the 2019-2020 Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children should open in December and close in February, but the exact dates have not been determined yet,” said Dobson. “Be sure to check the scholarship page in mid-December for the opening of the program.”

Fisher House Foundation is ranked a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator.

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

 

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         55-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              July 11, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Ready-to-eat munchies

Let the commissary cater your next picnic

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

Note: Go to the DeCA website to view this release online.

FORT LEE, Va. – Summer is the perfect time to lay down those mobile devices, TV remotes and game system controllers and take the family outside for some old fashioned bonding at a perfectly planned picnic.

“To put together a summer picnic basket that will get the job done but won’t break the bank, don’t go any further than your local commissary,” said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales. “You can put together a delicious, economical, al fresco meal with almost no effort at all. Save even more when you purchase high quality, low cost commissary store brands.”  

Picnic food should keep well, transport easily and taste delicious. The following three picnic options hit the mark. Find great prices on the ingredients and ready-to-eat items for each of these menus at your commissary. Find the recipes for the linked menu items on commissaries.com.

Comfort food picnic

• Cold Fried Chicken or Chicken Nuggets
• Potato Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Coleslaw
• Watermelon
• Cobbler
• Sweet Iced Tea
  
  

Wine and cheese picnic

• Choose one of each type of cheese:
  • Aged: cheddar, gouda, swiss
  • Soft: blue, boursin, brie, goat
  • Firm: gruyere, monterey jack, jarlsberg, parmesan

• Choose bread, crackers or flatbread
• Choose your extras
  • Savory: olives, pickles, roasted red peppers
  • Sweet: jam or chutney, apple or pear slices, berries, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe
  • Crunchy: nuts, seeds or roasted edamame, chickpeas or pumpkin seeds
  • Meat: prosciutto, ham or turkey

• Wine and corkscrew
  
  

Sandwich and sides picnic

• Sandwiches:
  • Tuna bahn mi
  • Mayonnaise-free chicken salad sandwich
  • Turkey caprese panini or grilled eggplant sandwich
  • Veggie wraps or pork lettuce wraps
                    
  • Hummus and veggies or caprese on a stick
  • Pasta salad
  • Chips and dip
  • Fruit salad
  • Brownies
  • Spritzer

“There’s no better way to take advantage of the sunshine and summer breezes than to enjoy a family picnic. And no better way to save on your picnic menu than a quick visit to your commissary,” said Russ. “So put away the electronics, pack your basket and some games, hit the road and gear up for some incomparable family time.” 

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         49-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              June 17, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Parham is DeCA’s new director of public health, safety

By DeCA Corporate Communications

FORT LEE, Va. – Army Lt. Col. Angela M. Parham is the Defense Commissary Agency’s new director of public health and safety, announced Rogers E. Campbell, executive director of DeCA’s Store Operations Group.

She replaces Army Col. Alisa R. Wilma, who moved on to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as the deputy commander for DOD’s Regional Health Command-Central.

Parham reports to DeCA June 21from United States Army Central Command (USARCENT) headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where she was the command veterinarian. There she was responsible for overseeing USARCENT’s veterinary services mission that encompasses animal health, zoonotic disease risk mitigation and food protection activities.

As DeCA’s director of public health and safety, Parham leads a staff in Asia, Europe and the United States that plans and implements the agency’s consumer health and safety programs. Her directorate oversees health and safety site visits to commissaries and other DeCA facilities to include disposition of issues identified. Parham’s staff also acts as DeCA’s liaison with other military and federal public health, food safety, and personnel safety elements.

 “Lt. Col. Parham has had a world of experience in the realm of health and safety,” Campbell said. “We’re confident that she’ll lead our dedicated team of civilians and military members as we continue to ensure the products in our commissaries and the stores themselves are the safest possible.”  

            Parham has been a veterinarian for 22 years, graduating veterinary school in 1997 from the University of Georgia. She subsequently entered active duty as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps. Her previous assignments included stops at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; Camp Walker, South Korea; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where she was commander of the Alaska District Veterinary Command.

During her assignment at USARCENT, Parham, though stationed in Shaw Air Force Base, traveled frequently to the Middle East, working in Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, Afghanistan, Oman, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

From 2014 to 2016, she completed an applied epidemiology fellowship with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, working in Atlanta, Georgia, and deploying to Sierra Leone.

 From 2013 to 2014, Parham served as the command veterinarian for the Area Support Group-Kuwait at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where she supervised clinical and preventive veterinary services in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Oman.

“I’m excited to be part of Team DeCA and connected to its mission of ensuring our patrons get the most efficient, effective and safest benefit possible,” Parham said. “I know our staff at public health and safety will continue to work tirelessly to help protect our patrons and employees.”

            Parham earned both her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in biological services (1991) and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1997), from the University of Georgia. She also earned a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree (2008) from Texas A&M University.

Parham is a board certified Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Preventive.

-DeCA-

NEWS RELEASE

Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:         48-19                                                                                                                        

Date:                              June 13, 2019

Media Contact:             Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                                (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                           kevin.robinson@deca.mil

‘We just have higher standards’

Former director: Commissaries put high priority

on health and safety of its patrons

By Kevin L. Robinson,

DeCA public affairs specialist

FORT LEE, Va. – When it comes to public health and safety in military commissaries, the Department of Defense has unique standards to match the stores’ special patronage – the men and women serving in uniform and their families.

It’s those standards that set commissaries apart from commercial grocers, said Army Col. Alisa R. Wilma, the Defense Commissary Agency’s former director of public health and safety.

Since June 1, Wilma has assumed her new assignment as the deputy commander for DOD’s Regional Health Command-Central at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Army Lt. Col. Angela M. Parham, former command veterinarian for the United States Army Central Command (USARCENT) headquarters, reports to DeCA June 21 as the new director of public health and safety.

Days before she left DeCA, Wilma spoke about her nearly three years at the commissary agency.

“Shortly after I arrived at DeCA in 2016 we had a hurricane [Matthew] and a commissary in Florida lost electricity,” she recalled. “We didn’t have a solid time as to how long its freezers had been out of power; so, we didn’t have good data on how long the products inside the freezer had been out of temperature. Now if it’s under four hours, we’re good, and can drive on. If it’s over four hours we cannot [sell that product].

“Since we didn’t have definitive data, we threw the product out. I cannot guarantee that an outside grocer would have made the same decision. And yes that’s government dollars, but we made that decision in the pursuit of patron safety. We just have higher standards.”

Supporting an operation with nearly 240 commissaries in 13 nations that serves more than 5 million military households can be a daunting task, one that DeCA’s public health and safety embraces heartily, Wilma said.

“If we do everything right, no one gets sick; no one gets hurt,” she said about the health and safety mission. “I’d like to think I’ve taken my team – people who are incredibly talented and hard-working – and communicated their value to this agency, so that our stores know we are here to help.”

DeCA’s food safety mission ensures that all edible products destined for commissary shelves are inspected by military veterinarians once it arrives at the store, checking products to ensure that they’ve arrived from the documented place of origin within the right temperature and free of any pests or signs of foodborne diseases.

The agency’s occupational health and safety responsibilities are just as challenging when you consider agency specialists are charged with tracking U.S. federal requirements along with those governing the local national employees in the country where the store operates.

Much of what public health and safety does involves preventing an issue of food safety before it occurs or eliminating potential dangers in the commissary that could harm patrons and employees alike, said Rogers E. Campbell, executive director of DeCA’s Store Operations Group.

“Col. Wilma has done a fine job leading a talented team of professionals whose daily mission is to help protect our products and keep our stores safe places in which to shop and work,” Campbell said. “It’s through her efforts that our operators continue to value the effectiveness of the public health and safety mission.”

Wilma reported to DeCA Sept. 19, 2016,from Fort Benning, Georgia, where she served as commander of the 463^rd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support).

            Throughout her career, she’s served at varied places such as Fort Dix, New Jersey; Camp Darby, Italy and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Wilma has also served overseas in various assignments such as the command veterinarian for the Area Support Group-Kuwait at Camp Arifjan Kuwait, where she supervised all clinical and preventive veterinary services throughout Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Oman (2010 to 2012);  and the U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force, where she planned veterinary missions throughout Africa and supported the command’s food safety and preventive medicine mission (2012 to 2014).

From August 2014 to August 2016, while commander of the 463^rd Medical Detachment, she deployed teams to Liberia in support of Operation United Assistance as part of the Ebola relief effort and to Kosovo as part of NATO’s international peacekeeping force. In July 2015, she also deployed the 463^rd to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment members of her unit further deployed to Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

            “I’m going to miss this place,” Wilma said of DeCA. “I think the next three to five years are going to be absolutely fascinating to see how the commissary continues to evolve to make certain that our service members, our retirees and their families have the benefit they rely on. Preserving this benefit is critical, I think. There are a million ways to preserve it, and we have great leadership that is exploring every avenue for doing so.

“As for the public health and safety mission, I know my team is going to carry this mission forward,” she said. “I have great confidence in my successor, [Lt.] Col Parham. She is going to be a fantastic fit for this agency. She has great experience in both food safety and the science behind epidemiology that will translate wonderfully in our occupational safety. And the backbone, our team members, will help our stores deliver a commissary benefit that’s as healthy and safe as possible.”

-DeCA-

By Marguerite Cleveland

     For more than 10 years the Defense Commissary Agency has brought the Commissary to National Guard and Reserve units through its On-Site Sale program.  The slogan of the program is “Bringing the benefit to you”.

     “For the past decade these sales have provided the commissary benefit to those who have earned it, but don’t live or work near a commissary, and its legacy is impressive to say the least,” said Willie Watkins, DeCA’s chief of e-business. According to Watkins, the program has held more than 930 sales events, served over 430,700 customers while saving them more than $18 million.

     The sales take place all over the country and the agency is always open to bring the program to other locations. Here are some important details to remember:

• Sales are cooperative efforts between sponsoring Guard and Reserve units, and commissary store directors who together determine sale locations and dates. A contingent at DeCA Headquarters gives guidance and oversees the process
• Sales average two or three days and are open to all authorized commissary shoppers
• Sales feature a wide variety of commissary products largely determined by shopper preferences at each location
• Customers shop and pay for purchases much like they would at a commissary. There are also preorder and prepay sales – where customers order their groceries on-line and pay for them prior to pick-up at the designated location – and hybrid sales that are a combination of conventional and preorder/prepay
• Sales are easy to find. DeCA’s website has a Guard/Reserve page that lists sales locations and dates along with contacts for more information on particular events

     There are a number of locations that have military Exchange services but no commissaries. DeCA is looking into the possibilities of partnering with them. The exchanges could serve as sales locations or pick-up locations.

Here are the dates of sales to the end the fiscal year.

July

Grand Forks – July 12, 2019 at Camp Grafton 4417 Hwy. 20, Devil’s Lake ND 58301

Robins AFB – July 18-20, 2019 at 1901 Terrell Mill Rd SE, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30067

August

Malmstrom AFB – August 30-31, 2019 at PO Box 4789 HAFRC 1956 Mt Majo St  Fort Harrison, Montana  59636

Robins AFB – August 15-17, 2019 at 1901 Terrell Mill Rd SE, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30067

September

Grand Forks – September 7, 2019 Fargo, ND location TBD

Robins AFB – September 19-21, 2019 at 1901 Terrell Mill Rd SE, Suite 200, Marietta, GA 30067

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com